Bergen Public Library
Encyclopedia
Bergen Public Library is a library
building and public library
institution in Bergen
, Norway
. Founded in 1872, it is the second largest public library in Norway. In addition to the main building in Bergen's city centre, Bergen Public Library operates six branch offices, the library service in Bergen's two prisons, and a library bus.
, Bergen and Trondheim
were the main centres of literature in Norway, monasteries
and churches containing the majority of books and libraries. St Mary's Church
in Bergen possessed a large book collection that was open to the public. In 1766, vicar David Schønfeldt donated a large amount of books and money to the collection, allowing the church to construct a separate building to contain the library. Open two hours a day, this was the predecessor of the current library. In 1876, the church's collection was handed over to Bergen Public Library, where it was kept until the collection was deposited in the University Library of Bergen about a century later.
In 1869, university librarian
Paul Botten-Hansen put his book collection, consisting of 12,000 volumes, for sale. A newly founded association decided to found a public library in Bergen, based on Botten-Hansen's collection. After the purchase of the collection in 1871, the association offered Bergen municipality to acquire the collection, on condition that it would cover the costs of operating a library. The first library building was located on Torgallmenningen
, in a former brewery. This building would soon prove itself too small, however, and the library moved to the meat bazar, located along the inner harbour of the bay of Vågen. In 1910, Arne Kildal
became chief librarian, and continued the effort to provide the library with its own, modern building.
The current building, built in the neo-Romanesque style, is designed by architect Olaf Nordhagen
and was erected in 1917, after he won the 1906 architect competition.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
building and public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
institution in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Founded in 1872, it is the second largest public library in Norway. In addition to the main building in Bergen's city centre, Bergen Public Library operates six branch offices, the library service in Bergen's two prisons, and a library bus.
History
In the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Bergen and Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
were the main centres of literature in Norway, monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
and churches containing the majority of books and libraries. St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church, Bergen
St Mary's Church is a church in Bergen, Norway. The construction of the church is believed to have started in the 1130s or 40s and completed around 1180, making the church the oldest remaining building in Bergen.-History:...
in Bergen possessed a large book collection that was open to the public. In 1766, vicar David Schønfeldt donated a large amount of books and money to the collection, allowing the church to construct a separate building to contain the library. Open two hours a day, this was the predecessor of the current library. In 1876, the church's collection was handed over to Bergen Public Library, where it was kept until the collection was deposited in the University Library of Bergen about a century later.
In 1869, university librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
Paul Botten-Hansen put his book collection, consisting of 12,000 volumes, for sale. A newly founded association decided to found a public library in Bergen, based on Botten-Hansen's collection. After the purchase of the collection in 1871, the association offered Bergen municipality to acquire the collection, on condition that it would cover the costs of operating a library. The first library building was located on Torgallmenningen
Torgallmenningen
Torgallmenningen, Torgalmenningen, or Torvallmenningen, is the main square of Bergen, Norway.-External links:* positioned on Bergens Tidende's main building...
, in a former brewery. This building would soon prove itself too small, however, and the library moved to the meat bazar, located along the inner harbour of the bay of Vågen. In 1910, Arne Kildal
Arne Kildal
Arne Kildal was a Norwegian author, librarian and civil servant.-Background:Arne Kildal was born in Kristiania, the son of politician Birger Kildal. He finished his secondary education in 1903, and took the cand.philol. degree before traveling to the United States to train as a librarian...
became chief librarian, and continued the effort to provide the library with its own, modern building.
The current building, built in the neo-Romanesque style, is designed by architect Olaf Nordhagen
Olaf Nordhagen
Johan Olaf Brochmann Nordhagen was a Norwegian architect, engineer and artist.He was born in Christiania as a son of artist Johan Nordhagen and Christine Magdalene Brochmann Johansen . He was a brother of Rolf Nordhagen and through him an uncle of Per Jonas Nordhagen...
and was erected in 1917, after he won the 1906 architect competition.